Whirling light toy



June 5, 1962 w. J. BAUMGARTNER, JR

WHIRLING LIGHT TOY Filed NOV. .14, 1960 INVENTOR. W/'///'am J. Boumgar/ner, Jr. BY L7 %TTORNEY Unite timore, Md.

Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 68,743 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-228) This invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly it pertains to an electric illuminated whirling sparkler toy.

The use of pyrotechnics is prohibited by law in many States. The once popular sparkler is becoming a thing of the past.

It is, therefore, a basic object of this invention to provide a whirling sparkler toy which is legal, safe, inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a whirling electrically lighted sparkler toy which flashes on and off when whirled about.

And another object of this invention is to provide a commutating device for erratically transmitting an electric current from a flashlight battery case to an object whirled thereby.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the accompanying specification and single sheet of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a whirling light toy embodying principles of this invention and illustrating its use;

FIG. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram for the toy of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view, partially in cross-section and partially in elevation, much enlarged, showing the details of the commutating parts of the whirling light toy of this invention.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the novel whirling light toy incorporating features of this invention. The toy consists of a battery case 12 having an electric battery therein (not shown) and a conventional on-otf switch 56.

The battery case 12 is provided with a cap 36 which is adapted for commutating the electric current from the battery in case 12 to a pair of swingable insulated wires 26 and 28 and thence to a pair of lamp bulbs 30 and 32, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The wires 26 and 28 are secured at their ends to lug terminals 14 and 16, respectively. These terminals 14 and 16 are of a closed annular end type and are arranged to pivot about a center consisting of a headed bolt 18 and an assembly of washers and sleeves axially co-extensive of case 12.

As shown in the enlarged exploded view of FIG. 3, this assembly is made up in the following sequence. Nearest the head 60 on the bolt 18, there is first reeved a flat metal washer 54, followed next by a flat insulating washer 52. The apertured cap 36 of the battery case 12 is next installed and prevented from electrically short-circuiting to the bolt 18 by means of a long insulating sleeve 46 which extends against the insulating washer 52. Over this sleeve 46, there is placed a flat metal washer 50 which contacts the cap 36. A cylindrical metal commutating sleeve or slip ring 48 is next placed over the sleeve 46.

The lug terminal 16 slips loosely over this sleeve 48 and is retained thereon by a flat metal washer 44 which is located next in order on the sleeve 46.

A thick insulating collar 38 follows, then a flat metal washer 42, and another commutating sleeve or slip ring 40 on the sleeve '46. The other lug terminal 14 fits loosely over this sleeve 40, and it is retained thereon by a flat metal washer 20.

A threaded nut 22 which is screwed onto the threads States Pate "ice 24 of the bolt 18 tightly compresses the above mentioned assembly without, however, interfering with the freedom of the loose fitting terminals 14 and 16.

Electric circuitry is from the battery tip contact, that is, the head 60 of the bolt 18, through the bolt and nut 22 to washer 20 and commutating sleeve 40.

The other current circuit path is from the cap 36 to washer 50 and thence to commutating sleeve 48. As shown in FIG. 2, the current flow from. the battery 62 and switch 56 is through these commutating sleeves 40 and 48 in loose fit to terminals 14 and 16. The current then courses through the wire leads 26 and 28 to the lamps 30 and 32 which may be of the same or different colors.

In use, the switch 56 is turned on and the toy 10 is held in the hand 58 as shown in FIG. 1. With an oscillatory movement of the wrist or swing of the arm of the operator of the toy 10, the wire leads 26 and 28 and lamps 30 and 32 dependent thereon are made to swing, or whirl around. The light from the illuminated lamps 30 and 32 by persistence of vision appears as concentric arcs or circles.

The effect of sparkle may be heightened by a tinsel wrap 34 around the wire leads 26 and 28.

Because the terminals 14 and 16 are loosely fitted upon their respective commutating sleeves 40 and 48, the electric circuit is erratically interrupted during the whirling causing corresponding extinction of light from the lamps 3i and 32. The appearance of the toy is pleasing even in the daytime as it can be decorated with colored ribbon. Small attached bells will lend their jingle in synchronism with the flashing light in pleasing fashion.

It is to be noted that any number of lamps 30 and 32 can be utilized in the toy 10 to obtain the effect desired. In addition, the leads 26 and 28 can be spaced from each other only a nominal distance as Well as a large distance so that the bulbs 30, with the tinsel wrap 34, due to the light reflection therefrom will give a lightening effect from any direction that the toy is viewed. Spacers having a tinsel wrapping can be used to space the leads 26 and 28. The toy 10 can be decorated with any design of tinsel material or equivalent reflecting material, and different color paper.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric illuminated whirling sparkler toy device, comprising, structure defining a housing having a metallic cap with an opening therein at one end thereof, a rod extending outwardly from said housing through and spaced from said opening, an electrical circuit including a source of power and a switch therefor, said rod and cap being connected in series in said electrical circuit to said source of power and switch, a pair of spaced commutating slip rings encompassing said rod and insulated from each other and arranged, respectively, in electrical contact with said cap and rod, an insulated swingable lead for each said slip ring with a terminal at one end thereof loosely encompassing its respective slip ring to make erratic electrical contact therewith upon rotation of its respective swingable lead about said rod, and at least one lamp connected between said swingable leads to complete said electrical circuit, whereby when said switch is closed and said swingable leads are rotated about said rod, erratic electrical contact is made with said slip rings and unpredictable random flashing on and off of said lamp occurs.

2. An electric illuminated whirling sparkler toy device, comprising, structure defining a housing having a metallic cap with an opening therein at one end thereof, a rod extending outwardly from said housing through and spaced from said opening, an electrical circuit including a source of power and a switch therefor, said rod and cap being connected in series in said electrical circuit to said source of power and switch, a pair of spaced commutating slip rings encompassing said rod and insulated from each other and arranged, respectively, in electrical contact with said cap and rod, an insulated swingable lead for each said slip ring having a terminal at one end thereof loosely encompassing its respective slip ring to make erratic electrical contact therewith upon rotation of its respective swingable lead about said rod, a plurality of lamps connected between said swingable leads, and refiector means for said insulated siwngable leads to increase the sparkling effect when said swingable leads are rotated about said rod, whereby when said switch is closed and said swingable leads are rotated about said rod, erratic electrical contact is made with said slip rings and unpredictable random flashing on and oil of said lamps occurs.

3. An electric illuminated whirling sparkler toy device, comprising, structure defining an elongated housing of handle shape having a battery therein with a switch for said battery and a metallic cap with an opening therein at one end thereof, a rod extending outwardly from said housing through and spaced from said opening, an electrical circuit including said battery, and said switch there for, said rod and cap being connected in series in said electrical circuit to said battery and switch, a pair of spaced commutating slip rings encompassing said rod and insulated from each other and arranged, respectively, in electrical contact with said cap and rod, an insulated swingable lead for each said slip ring, having a terminal at one end thereof loosely encompassing its respective slip ring to make erratic electrical contact therewith upon rotation of its respective swingable lead about said rod, a plurality of parallel connected light indicating devices connected between said swingable leads, and reflector tinsel means on said insulated swingable leads to increase the sparkling effect when said swingable leads are rotated about said rod, whereby when said switch is closed and said swingable leads are rotated about said rod, erratic electrical contact is made with said slip rings and unpredictable random flashing on and off of said light indicating devices occurs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,858 Keller Nov. 5, 1929 2,726,483 Hughes et al Dec. 13, 1955 2,857,507 Stec Oct. 2], 1958 

